Main Aim of Visit to Russia by Alvaro Gil Robles is to Study the Human Rights Situation in Chechnya

The visit to Russia, in particular to the North Caucasus, by Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Alvaro Gil Robles pursues one, very important aim - above all to assess the human rights situation on the spot. Gil Robles told reporters about it on Tuesday after his meeting in the State Duma (lower house of the Russian parliament) with chairman of its international committee Dmitry Rogozin.

The commissioner of the Council of Europe pointed out that he was also interested very much of course in the political process which is going on in the Chechen republic, because the protection of human rights and their respect call, first of all, for stability and political concord in the republic. Gil Robles underscored that such process implies that nobody will be cast aside and all will work jointly for achieving the ideals of democracy.

For his part Dmitry Rogozin said that "the objective and professional attitude" of Gil Robles will make it possible to pay attention to those problems which have not yet been resolved to the end. This is also connected with the holding of the referendum on March 23 and, on the whole, with the political process in the Chechen republic." "We are absolutely sure," pointed out Dmitry Rogozin, "that human rights standards must be the same for everybody."